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Fun Without Drinks: A Chick’s Guide to Saying No

posted by ChickSpeak
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 5:13pm CDT

Another stressful week is finally winding down. Between studying, writing papers, working out, going to club meetings, and catching up with friends, by the time the weekend rolls around, its time for a well deserved break.

For many of us chicks, you might soon discover that a weekend in college most likely goes hand in hand with some form of drinking. By mid week, a buzz is starting to generate about what parties you have to attend and where you’ll be going to have a few drinks before you really start drinking.

Of course letting your hair down and doing something just for the fun of it is a good thing every so often. You’re a college student; you’re allowed to work hard and play hard too. But, if your idea of a great, stress free weekend doesn’t include any kind of binge drinking, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Especially in the very beginning of college, it might seem like there is no other person on campus who wants to do anything but drink and party. You might find that the pursuit of finding places with an abundance of alcohol might consume the friends you initially meet. For many people, coming to college is synonymous with blacked out nights and hangovers that last for days.

But maybe that’s not your scene. If that’s the case, its nothing to be ashamed of but it might make you feel like somewhat of an outsider. So many people become so preoccupied with the notion of fitting in that they forget that it’s okay to break from the pack and do your own thing. But just because so many others around you might be afraid to challenge the “norm” doesn’t mean you should be.

If you decide to partake in activities during the weekend that don’t involve taking shots or hugging the toilet, don’t be embarrassed by it, despite what others might think or say about it. What you do in your free time shouldn’t be determined by anyone but yourself.

Maybe some of your peers can’t understand why you’re doing what they are, but you don’t have to make them understand. All you have to be concerned with is making the most of your time at college, including the weekends, and if that means marching to the beat of your own drum, so be it.

The beauty of college is that it provides the opportunity for you to meet and mingle with a diverse set of people that you may never have thought to connect with before. While it might seem like everyone around you is only concerned with having the most drunken stories, if you expand your social scope, you’ll find that’s not true.

Join clubs and other activities that really interest you. By getting involved in things that you are truly passionate about, you will find other people who share your interests and people that you can potentially make a meaningful connection with.

“Involve yourself with student organizations that promote a certain cause or altruistic aim. When you stay busy on and off campus with volunteering you can also make friends with whom you share substantive interests,” says an article on eHow.com.

The people who are similar to you are most likely also looking for new and different ways to spend their weekends. Together you can find a variety of fun to do to ensure you’re spending your weekends in a way that’s worthwhile to you.

Take charge of the situation! If you’re frustrated that nobody else is organizing activities to partake in that don’t involve drinking, organize something yourself. Plan a movie night, or get dressed up and go out with a group of people to a nice restaurant for dinner. Order pizzas and play board games you haven’t seen in years. You’d probably be surprised to see how many people would be interested in participating.

Unfortunately, you might encounter some people in college who have not yet reached your maturity level. They might try to make you feel wrong or “uncool” for staying away from the party scene during the weekend. Although it can be hard not to listen to the negative comments, don’t let someone else’s ignorance bring you down or stop you from doing the things that make you happy.

Some people might try to convince you that this is college; it’s supposed to be the craziest time of your life. They might try to feel like you’re wasting these years if you’re not using every free minute you have to drink. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. College is about figuring yourself out and being proud of your individuality.

It might take some time but let yourself have the courage to be who are and do what you want. Because at the end of the day, when your peers are trying to remember how they spent the weekend, you’ll be able to look back with a clear head and be proud of yourself for not letting other people define who you are.

Sarah Friedman is a sophomore at Northeastern University studying journalism. She loves to go out and dance but also really appreciates a good night in with good friends.